Hamburg, Germany

Hamburg City Hall

In the magnificent Town Hall building, built in the 19th century on the site of an earlier one that burned down, representatives of both the legislative and executive authorities of Hamburg meet-an unusual and rare phenomenon in Germany. And the Town Hall itself, with its 647 rooms, is well worth a visit here. This majestic structure is adorned with huge statues of emperors on the façade, and crowned with a Baroque tower 112 meters high. The interior decor is no less luxurious. Especially grand is the Kaiser’s Hall with its rare leather wall coverings. In addition, in one of the Town Hall’s halls there is an enormous Golden Book where autographs of such famous figures as Bismarck, Charles de Gaulle, Princess Diana, and Queen Elizabeth have been left.

Church of St. Michael

In times when GPRS services were unavailable to sailors, the tower of St. Michael’s Church served as a kind of beacon. In the early 20th century, a fire broke out during construction work at the church, scorching it almost to the ground. Once again, it was reduced to ruins by the bombardments of the Second World War. That’s when the unique church organ also burned down, on which the son of Johann Bach once played music. Today, St. Michael’s Church has been fully restored and delights the eye not only with its wonderful architecture, but also with its beautiful interior. Be sure to pay special attention to the schedule of performances by the church orchestra accompanied by the organ- the cathedral is known for its excellent acoustics.

St. Nicholas Church

The ruins of this church attract special attention from both local residents and visitors: during World War II, the tall tower of the Gothic church served as an excellent landmark for air raids. In 1943, the building was practically completely destroyed. Only the “landmark” survived-the church tower, 147 meters high. In 1990, restoration of the church began. However, a decision was made not to rebuild the church, but only to make the tower safe for visitors. The church’s shell was strengthened, checked for safety many times, and equipped with a modern high-speed elevator. Today, the “Burnt” church (as locals call it) is a memorial to the victims of war and violence. From the church’s viewing platform, you can enjoy a wonderful view. And in the basement, there is a wine museum.

St. Peter’s Cathedral

Today, St. Peter’s Cathedral is not only the oldest functioning church in Hamburg, but also one of the city’s best viewpoints (132 meters and a staircase of 544 steps, with rest areas set up at different levels). The first mention of St. Peter’s Cathedral in the records sounds like “a church in the market” and dates back to 1195. The cathedral gained its Gothic look and its first pointed spire in the mid-14th century. Around the same time, bronze door handles shaped like a lion’s head appeared on its doors-and have been preserved to this day. During the Napoleonic invasion, the cathedral fell into decline. However, most of the works of art were saved from destruction, and within a few years the church was restored. It also survived the bombings of World War II.

HafenCity district

Hafen City is Hamburg’s youngest district, which grew up on the site of the old port. Here, ultra-modern futuristic buildings made of glass and concrete have been built, a beautiful waterfront has been created, and parks and gardens have been laid out. The most ambitious project in Hafen City is the concert hall-the 110-meter-tall building with a fantastic glass dome shaped like a sea wave. The only one of the “veterans” that has been preserved in its original form is the famous 19th-century industrial complex of Speicherstadt. Today, dozens of museums, exhibition halls, and galleries are located in its grand warehouse spaces.

Miniature Museum

250,000 miniatures “live” in this museum. Every 15 minutes in the city, dusk falls, street lamps light up, and tiny bedside lamps glow in the windows of the houses. It is in the details that lies the “devil,” which makes some visitors come to the miniature museum for years and spend hours looking at staged scenes from ordinary human life. A truck overturned in an accident, spilling a hundred wheels of cheese; firefighters and the police pull a drowned man out of the river; someone eats kebab with relish; two kids beat each other up… With miniature splendor, you can even interact by pressing special buttons-at the company picnic, the grill starts spinning, and trains pass by Alpine villages. Tickets to the museum are best ordered in advance.

Automobile Museum Prototype

The Hamburg Automobile Museum is located in a former factory building, built in the last century. Spread across three floors is a unique collection of post-war racing cars, many of which were produced in a single copy. The collection features about 50 vehicles in total. In addition to sports cars from the 1960s and 1970s, the museum also showcases more modern models from Porsche and Audi. But the pride of the exhibition here is a Formula 1 car, on which the famous racing driver Michael Schumacher made his debut in 1991. After the museum tour, everyone is invited to visit a special booth where you can listen to the roar of engines from different racing car models. There is a specialty shop at the museum selling miniature models of racing cars.

Spice Museum

In Hamburg there is the only Museum of Spices in Europe. It features more than 900 exhibits with a 500-year history. The lion’s share of the exhibition is devoted to the sharpest seasoning of all time and peoples - red pepper. Besides pepper, the museum also presents other spices: rosemary, anise, clove, cinnamon, turmeric, mustard seeds, nutmeg, and many, many more. Here you can learn where these spices grow, how they are cultivated, dried, and processed. There is even a collection of all kinds of antique devices for grinding spices. In addition, the museum showcases a rich collection of essential oils in small bottles that you can also unscrew right there and smell.

Planetarium

One of the oldest planetariums in the world is located right in the heart of the City Park in Hamburg. The tour into the starry world takes place in a huge hall with a height of 21 meters, where visitors are treated to a spectacular laser and sound show. In addition to the traditional viewing of the night sky, the planetarium hosts numerous lectures. The presentation “The Dark Side of the Moon” (“Dark side of the moon”) is extremely popular - an unforgettable mix of images of celestial bodies, 3D shows, and laser effects. This performance is accompanied by music from the band Pink Floyd. Special children’s shows are also held: some of them are more like cartoons (but on a huge screen and with lots of video effects).

Kunsthalle

Kunsthalle - a Hamburg art museum - was created at the initiative of local residents in the 19th century. Back then, at the request of the townspeople, a building was erected on the site of an ancient fortress, and the museum’s collection was founded on 19th-century works of art donated to the gallery by the people of Hamburg. Each year the collection grew, and the museum had to be expanded. Today, at the Kunsthalle, you can see not only 19th-century paintings, but also works by artists from the Middle Ages and the 20th century, a rich numismatic collection totaling more than 2,500 coins, and over 100,000 engraved prints.

Falkenstein Doll Museum

The Doll Museum in Hamburg grew out of Elke Droßher’s personal collection, which-over the course of several decades-managed to bring together more than 300 dolls, the oldest of which was made in the 18th century. In addition to dolls whose hairstyles and clothing recreate the fashion of bygone eras in every detail, the museum features around 60 dollhouses with meticulously designed interiors, kitchens, and shops. The atmosphere is complemented by approximately a hundred children’s photographic portraits from the 19th and 20th centuries.

Hamburg City Highlights Tour

Hamburg is one of the most beautiful cities in Germany. During the tour, you will learn why it is called the city of three “M”s, why Hamburg’s symbol is a simple water-carrier whose sculptures stand on many streets, and how Hamburgers differ from all other Germans. You will feel the spirit of freedom and independence of this Hanseatic city. Visit the City Hall, the historic “Deichstrasse” street, the “barn city” nestled on the canals, the futuristic HafenCity district, Hamburg’s main church “Michel,” the “widows’ houses,” go down into the old tunnel beneath the Elbe-a technical sensation of the 20th century-walk along the promenade of the famous Hamburg port, and discover a lot of interesting things.

For a more detailed list of excursions and their prices, you can check after booking your cruise in your “Personal Account.”